I have not really said very much at all today. I counted only 12 “I’s”. I know the count would be much higher on a different day. Viewing the world through the lens of self is inevitable, but not impossible to escape from. I have written in the past that I do not believe there is any such thing as a selfish person. Find out more here.
This was expressed best by David Foster-Wallace…
“Here is just one example of the total wrongness of something I tend to be automatically sure of: everything in my own immediate experience supports my deep belief that I am the absolute centre of the universe; the realest, most vivid and important person in existence. We rarely think about this sort of natural, basic self-centredness because it’s so socially repulsive. But it’s pretty much the same for all of us. It is our default setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth. Think about it: there is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute centre of. The world as you experience it is there in front of YOU or behind YOU, to the left or right of YOU, on YOUR TV or YOUR monitor. And so on. Other people’s thoughts and feelings have to be communicated to you somehow, but your own are so immediate, urgent, real.”
You can read the astonishing commencement speech here, or listen to it here. I recommend that you do both at least once.
Are you self-centred? Did today bring anything else up for you?
Be happy, healthy and helpful
Paul
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